Where to munch on mochi donuts in Michigan

Mochi donut mania has taken over social media—and several Michigan eateries. Discover where you can indulge in mochi donuts in the Mitten State. 

Mochi donuts are the latest food fusion causing long lines outside of shops and inspiring tons of social media posts. 

A mochi donut is a hybrid confection, much like the now-famous cronut—a cross between a donut and a croissant—that was named one of the 25 best inventions of the year in 2013. Mochi donuts are a cross between American donuts and Japanese mochi, which is a chewy, stretchy rice cake treat. Mochi donuts feature a mochi-like texture on the inside and a crispy fried donut exterior. (Rice flour gives mochi donuts their soft, chewy texture, which is different from the texture of a traditional yeast or cake donut.)

The dessert’s unique shape and whimsical appearance seem to contribute to its trendiness. Each donut consists of eight balls connected to form a ring, and the balls can easily be broken off the ring and eaten separately. The fun flavors likely help, too: Strawberry Matcha, Ube, and Black Sesame are just a few of the unique offerings at some of Michigan’s most popular mochi donut shops. 

Mochi donuts have become so popular that major retailers are selling mochi donut kits, and mochi donut shops are opening up across the country—including in major cities throughout Michigan. Keep reading to discover all the places in Michigan where you can enjoy mochi donuts.  

Bober Tea & Coffee / Mochi Dough

These two franchises, which usually share a retail space, have two locations in Michigan—Troy and Dearborn—and another coming soon to Novi. Bober Tea & Coffee / Mochi Dough sell mochi donuts and a wide variety of beverages, including Vietnamese coffee, fruit tea, milk tea, and lattes.

The mochi donut flavors change regularly, and the company posts new flavors on its Instagram page. Some recent menu additions at the Dearborn location include Oh, Fudge, Captain Crunch, Banana Split, Crème Brûlée, and Nutella Churro. The latest flavors at the Troy outpost include Strawberry Matcha, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, Cookie Monster, Taro-Ube, Black Sesame, and Churro.

“The mochi donuts!! Krispy Kreme dreams it could grow up to be a donut like this. The shape is uniquely shareable but the texture … melt in your mouth, not too sweet, with a slight crisp outer texture and a soft chewy inner texture. It is truly magical,” a customer at the Troy location wrote on Yelp.  

Both locations are highly Instagrammable, with pink walls and decor and cute backdrops for photos. Of the Dearborn location, one reviewer wrote, “This place is gorgeous! The decor made my jaw drop. They really came through with the aesthetic vibe—even down to the container my donuts were placed in!” 

Addresses: 856 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy

22370 Michigan Ave., Dearborn

25875 Novi Rd., Novi (coming soon)

Black Forest Cheesecake flavored mochi donuts. (Bober Tea & Coffee Troy)

Mochinut

Mochinut is another national chain restaurant with several locations in Michigan, including one in Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Troy. Mochi donut flavors vary by location, but there are about 25 different options on the company’s website. Flavors range from traditional selections like Strawberry, Chocolate, and Original to more creative ones, such as Milk Pebble, Ube, and Yuzu. 

“The mochi donuts have a wonderful bouncy texture and taste absolutely incredible,” one Yelp reviewer wrote about the Troy location. A customer at the Ann Arbor location wrote, “Super tasty and unique donuts! Love the fun shape, and the texture of the mochi dough is outstanding. Light and fluffy yet chewy.”

The shop also serves Mochinut Balls, which are similar to donut holes and stuffed with a creamy filling, Korean rice flour hotdogs, bubble tea drinks, and soft serve. 

Addresses: 1771 Plymouth Rd. #103, Ann Arbor

384 John R Rd., Troy

5585 Gull Rd., Ste. 118, Kalamazoo

46556 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township

28963 Woodward Ave., Berkley

1368 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills (coming soon)

6331 Haggerty Rd., West Bloomfield Township (coming soon)

Rák Thai 

Rák Thai is a family-owned restaurant located in Grand Rapids Downtown Market. The modern Thai menu consists of dishes and drinks like Pad Thai, fried rice, and bubble tea. You can also enjoy mochi donuts at Rák Thai, though the restaurant’s website doesn’t have any information about specific flavors. However, social media posts highlighted flavors like Maple Bacon, Cocoa Pebbles, and Cinnamon Coffee Cake. 

“The mochi donuts … were delicious! My sister and I picked up the Strawberry Matcha and Taro Fruity Pebbles mochi donuts and not only were they adorable, but they were light and fluffy,” a Yelp reviewer wrote. 

Address: 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Mew Mew Konfectionaries 

Mew Mew Konfectionaries is a female-founded business—also located in Grand Rapids Downtown Market—that specializes in Asian sweets and baked goods. In addition to a variety of cream puffs, sweet buns, and cakes, Mew Mew Konfectionaries also sells mochi donuts. Available flavors include Churro, Fruity Milk Tea, Glazed, Hibiscus Orange, Lime in Coconut, Marbled Oreo, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Shortcake, and Double Chocolate. 

Address: 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Various flavors of mochi donuts. (Mew Mew Konfectionaries)

Make your own!

If you want to give the trendy mochi donut a try but can’t get to any of the locations mentioned in this post, consider making your own.

Hungry Huy has an easy-to-follow recipe with two glaze options, and Floured Frame shared a recipe for a vegan version.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.